tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-398573866701368812018-09-17T02:33:59.603-07:0060 Day Bikram Yoga ChallengeI am a Bikram yogini who does 60 and 100 day challenges twice a year. This is where I share my sweat, tears, and joy.bikramyogachickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04685444498620345130noreply@blogger.comBlogger452125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39857386670136881.post-79702101923748945932013-02-19T07:38:00.000-08:002013-02-19T07:38:13.811-08:00It's a wrap!Well, this past Friday was the final day of our 30 day challenge.&nbsp; Jimmy and I went to the 530 at the hotter studio.&nbsp; The teacher knew it was our 30th day and acknowledged us at the end of the class.&nbsp; The students clapped and we received many congratulations in the lobby after class.&nbsp; I'm so glad that Jimmy wanted to do this together.&nbsp; It was amazing to practice next to him and spend time with him.&nbsp; He doesn't have a membership anywhere, just some classes left on a groupon.&nbsp; So we'll use those up and then see what the universe sends his way.&nbsp; Meanwhile, I just renewed my annual at the hotter studio and look forward to "renewing" my practice by committing to at least 3 days a week, preferebly 4 going forward. <br />It's been a few years since I've done a challenge.&nbsp; What I learned this time around is the discipline and focus required to do this yoga 30 days in a row is really a great way to step up your game and prevent stagnation.&nbsp; I have decided that a once a year challenge is for sure in order.<br />bikramyogachickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04685444498620345130noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39857386670136881.post-39351659706598197782013-02-13T08:16:00.000-08:002013-02-13T08:16:47.648-08:00Day 28: Sick YogisI like to walk around bragging about how I never get sick.&nbsp; I've been practicing bikram for six years this april and that has been true for the entire time.&nbsp; Until I started dating Jimmy.&nbsp; For the second time in the past three months, he picked up a cold and then gave it to me. (Thank you honey).&nbsp; So instead of being this "super healthy bullet proof sick proof yogini" that I thought I was, I guess I just didn't pick up bugs because I was usually single and had no, ahem, contact with people.&nbsp; Whatever the case, Jimmy got sick last week, gave it to me and we've been chugging along through our yoga challenge with colds.&nbsp; This really freaks non yoga people out.&nbsp; They think it's dangerous to practice hot yoga while sick.&nbsp; I find it soothing.&nbsp; For 90 minutes I don't cough.&nbsp; For 90 minutes my nose doesn't run.&nbsp; For 90 minutes, I forget I'm sick.&nbsp; Now I'm on the tail end of the cold and we are also at the tail end of the challenge.&nbsp; I feel slimmer, stronger, better all around.&nbsp; I'm so glad Jimmy wanted to do the challenge.&nbsp; I had forgotten how great an everyday bikram practice makes a body feel!bikramyogachickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04685444498620345130noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39857386670136881.post-91412492241193991082013-02-08T08:25:00.001-08:002013-02-08T08:25:36.077-08:00Day 23- The first time everToday is day 23.&nbsp; Two nights ago, in the owner of the studio's class I had a major breakthrough in my practice.&nbsp; Standing head to knee is something I have never been able to master.&nbsp; It took me two years just to kick out.&nbsp; Once kicked out, it took even longer to be able to hold it.&nbsp; Then working on getting the elbows down.&nbsp; This april will be 6 years of practicing bikram.&nbsp; You get the picture.&nbsp; Let's just call standing head to knee the "six year posture" for me.&nbsp; Lately I've been able to get my elbows down and slowly lower my forehead down to my knee......and then fall out sideways right away!&nbsp; It's been frustrating but I just keep trying and trying.&nbsp; Well, two nights ago that all changed.&nbsp; Not only did I stay put with my forehead on the knee, kicking out solid, breathing, but I stayed there until he said "change" and then I came out slowly, the opposite way I came in.<br />I couldn't help it, I stood there with a giant grin on my face, dizzy and intoxicated with excitement.&nbsp; I felt like I had just got off an awesome rollercoaster at an amusement park.&nbsp; I was flying high!<br />The next night I was back to falling out sideways.&nbsp; It doesn't matter, I know that I can do it so I will keep trying again!<br />bikramyogachickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04685444498620345130noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39857386670136881.post-67092315151185121362013-02-05T09:21:00.000-08:002013-02-05T09:21:11.284-08:00Day 20- SadnessLast night was day 19.&nbsp; In class, I felt sort of like, really.....this again?&nbsp; I didn't really want to do it, yet I DID want to do it.&nbsp; I was torn.&nbsp; Then halfway through class I felt like crying.&nbsp; For no reason.&nbsp; I was just suddenly very very sad.&nbsp; There is nothing in my life to be sad about, so the strong feeling of hopeless sadness caught me off guard.&nbsp; My eyes were tearing up and I just felt like I needed a good cry.&nbsp; Probably if Jimmy wasn't with me after class, I may have let it all out.&nbsp; Instead, I just sat with it, wondering where it all came from.&nbsp; <br />All in all, the challenge is going very well for both Jimmy and I.&nbsp; He likes bikram but for some reason, he says he is losing muscle in his arms, that he can tell when he golfs.&nbsp; That doesn't make sense to me, as it hasn't been my experience with Bikram, however, I'm also not a man, so I don't know.&nbsp; I do know that when I combine my body pump class, which is weights with Bikram that I get great results.&nbsp; I haven't gone to body pump for over a week now.&nbsp; It's just too much with the challenge.&nbsp; When the challenge is over, I'll do 2 body pump and 3 bikram a week plus my hiking on Sundays.&nbsp; That seems to be a great combo!<br />bikramyogachickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04685444498620345130noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39857386670136881.post-51673976246529241452013-02-01T07:54:00.002-08:002013-02-01T07:54:44.208-08:00Day 15: Halfway there and GiftsWell last night was day 15.&nbsp; Halfway there!&nbsp; I couldn't help but peek over at Jimmy several times during practice.&nbsp; Wow! He has improved in leaps and bounds.&nbsp; The teachers keep asking him if he will continue to practice and he says "nope, I'm done after the challenge!"&nbsp; I just shake my head and smile.&nbsp; The seed has been planted and I have the feeling he will bikram again someday.&nbsp;I am happy that he is able to experience something that has been so important in my life and he now understands why I love it so much.&nbsp;I was also thinking about how you never know if somebody is in your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime.&nbsp; For many years I was so hell bent on getting married (it never happened, I'm 42 now) that I tried to force each boyfriend into the "lifetime" category before even assessing if that person was right for ME.&nbsp; Instead, I tried to be right for THEM.&nbsp; What an exhausting approach!&nbsp; These past 9 months with Jimmy I have just gone with the flow, understanding that the relationship will go it's own direction and appreciating that he is in my life right now.&nbsp; Ultimately it will be revealed to both of us what path we are on....reason, season or lifetime.&nbsp; Until then, if it's the first...reason....then we both get to leave with gifts from each other.&nbsp; He has given me the gift of love and support through my fear of heights while hiking and he now has the gift of yoga in his life from me.&nbsp; Even if he doesn't keep practicing right now, he knows how great it feels to have a consistent practice.&nbsp; With this new point of view, I can now see the gifts that other men have left me with.&nbsp; One of them was even instrumental in my introduction to yoga.&nbsp; I am grateful to him for that.&nbsp; What a freedom to look back and see the gifts instead of carrying around resentments!&nbsp; <br />bikramyogachickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04685444498620345130noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39857386670136881.post-86308650456890981402013-01-31T07:56:00.000-08:002013-01-31T07:56:10.579-08:00Day 14: I can't hear a word you are sayingYesterday's class was brutal.&nbsp; It was day 14.&nbsp; Jimmy and I went to the 530 class.&nbsp; I thought I had enough water in me.&nbsp; We were at the hotter studio in town.&nbsp; I thought I was used to the heat in that studio by now.<br />I thought the teacher was keeping us in postures forever, yet we finished 3 minutes early.&nbsp; By the time I got to the floor I was a wreck.&nbsp; I couldn't stay in the postures during spine series and camel about killed me.&nbsp; Pushing my hips forward for camel just felt like too much.&nbsp; Like I would crack open my chest and just vomit as soon as I came out.&nbsp; I was restless, noisy and not a disciplined practioner like I usually am.&nbsp; I was lucky to make it through class and get out alive.<br />Sitting on the bench after class, talking to Jimmy, I just looked at him and said "I can't hear you, my ears are plugged for some reason".&nbsp; He just laughed and said "you are dehydrated".<br />Day 15, please be a good class!&nbsp; bikramyogachickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04685444498620345130noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39857386670136881.post-13823890042464968272013-01-28T07:38:00.001-08:002013-01-28T07:38:43.010-08:00Day 11- Old IdeasThe past two sundays, in order not to cut into our hiking adventures, Jimmy and I have been doing the 7am class.&nbsp; Now I have no problem going to the gym two mornings a week at 5am for body pump class, but for some reason, I hate morning yoga.&nbsp; Any bikram class prior to 10 or 11 just hurts.&nbsp; My arms don't want to straighten out in half moon, my back moans and won't do the backbend, and I feel weak overall.&nbsp; Last Sunday I was grumpy after the 7am class and started to snap at Jimmy and our friend David while in the starbucks drive thru on the way to hiking.&nbsp; They laughed at me and David leaned forward from the back seat and looked at me earnestly with his big blue eyes.&nbsp; He said "Michelle, your thought about morning classes being hard is an old idea.&nbsp; You need to let go of it".&nbsp; Well, being in a bad mood after a train wreck of a class, I poo poohed him and continued being in a bad mood for a good hour, compounded by finding a screw in my tire that day.&nbsp; Fast forward to this week.&nbsp; Yesterday was 7am again on Sunday.&nbsp; The teacher walked in and I stood up on my mat.&nbsp; I looked over at Jimmy and he shook his head and smiled at me.&nbsp; I smiled back and put my toes and heels together, listening to the teacher get the class ready to start.&nbsp; As pranayama breathing began, I heard David's voice in my head....."Michelle, that's an old idea" and I surrendered to having an open mind about class.&nbsp; I was not nearly as strong and flexible as I am during the evening classes, but I&nbsp;decided to enjoy the process of&nbsp;waking up my body.&nbsp; Seeing the sun peeking in through the studio windows, sharing morning energy with my classmates.&nbsp; After class my body tingled with life, ready to face the day.<br />The teacher led us through a lovely 90 minute moving meditation.&nbsp; When she closed the class and said "It looks like it's going to be a beautiful day, Namaste"....I said Namaste back with a smile on my face.bikramyogachickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04685444498620345130noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39857386670136881.post-21819717331815360072013-01-25T08:03:00.002-08:002013-01-25T08:03:57.710-08:00Day 9- The Power of SuggestionToday will be day 9.&nbsp; I'm taking class at 5:30.&nbsp; As I sit here writing this post, I shiver in anticpation and not in a good way.&nbsp; You see, I was feeling soooo strong.&nbsp; Then I wrote about how strong I was feeling in yesterday's post.&nbsp; I wondered if the yoga bus was going to come run me over and thought I better enjoy these strong classes.<br />The bus read my post.&nbsp; The weather here was a light rain, cloudy, humid.&nbsp; When I got to the studio, the room was like a tropical rain forest.&nbsp; Jimmy and I just looked at each other, a bit nervous.&nbsp; By half moon, I could hear the bus getting heading toward me.&nbsp; It tried to run me over in triangle.&nbsp; I came out of second side, second set a few seconds early.&nbsp; Being stubborn, I would not take a knee.&nbsp; But alas, by camel the bus had caught up with me, run me over and left me laying on the floor in a puddle for second set of camel.&nbsp; I just lay in savasana for second set, not able to move. I slugged my way through the rest of the class feeling like a water logged bag of sand.&nbsp; After class, I put my flip flops on and I was still dripping so much that my flip flops were soaked, with little puddles forming in the bottom.<br />I should have never wondered about the yoga bus....I suppose I manifested that damn thing myself!<br />Let's hope tonight is better!bikramyogachickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04685444498620345130noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39857386670136881.post-52747463820954942592013-01-24T07:56:00.001-08:002013-01-24T07:57:50.224-08:00Day 8- Strength and DeterminationToday is day 8.&nbsp; With 7 classes under my belt, I'm amazed at how much progress I've already made in this challenge.&nbsp; My strength is through the roof.&nbsp; I'm three months short of practing Bikram for 6 years and I am just now getting into the full expression of standing head to knee consistently.&nbsp; I fall out pretty quick and I can only get the forehead contact to the knee on one side, but I can do it.&nbsp; So far, I have done every posture in all 7 classes.&nbsp; No sitting out, no drama, no taking a knee.&nbsp; Just quiet determination, strength, truly a 90 minute moving meditation.&nbsp; It's beautiful.&nbsp; I've been down this road before though.&nbsp; I know that the yoga bus is probably lurking around the corner, ready to run me over, back up and throw a cigarette butt out the window on my tired ass.&nbsp; So I will enjoy this quiet strength and appreciate the amazing things my body can do.&nbsp; Amazing for me, because I know where I started.&nbsp; I could not even pick up my foot to do the first part of standing head to knee 6 years ago.<br />My boyfriend is doing really well.&nbsp; He does every single posture and is making that leaps and bounds type of progress which is typical when you are new.&nbsp; He feels great and is really having fun with the challenge.&nbsp; He does still say "I hate you" after every class, but 30 mins later, he is on top of the world.&nbsp; I just smile at him, as I know exactly what he's talking about.&nbsp; Of course, he's not doing Tues and Thurs 5am body pump ON TOP of bikram every day like I am.&nbsp; :) bikramyogachickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04685444498620345130noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39857386670136881.post-24569959808194147992013-01-21T11:16:00.000-08:002013-01-21T11:16:02.551-08:005 Days In......Today will be day 5 of our challenge.&nbsp; Here's what I've noticed so far, after just 4 classes:<br />1) I am sore all over my entire body<br />2) 30 days feels like it's going to be FOREVER<br />3) I forgot how much planning goes into a challenge and how you really have to put your life on HOLD.<br />4) My washing machine is getting a first class workout and I'm sure my water bill will increase.<br /><br />In addition to the bikram classes I've also done a body pump class, hiked 6 miles and hit a bunch of golf balls with my boyfriend.&nbsp; I am not a golfer, therefore, hitting the balls made my forearms sore.&nbsp; It hurts just to type this post.&nbsp; I'm a mess!&nbsp; My boyfriend is in the same boat though.&nbsp; His right hip hurts and his back is sore.&nbsp; He says "I hate you" after every class.&nbsp; I just smile and remind him that this was his idea.&nbsp; His competitve male ego won't let him back out though.&nbsp; This should be interesting!<br />bikramyogachickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04685444498620345130noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39857386670136881.post-43305164451532810782013-01-17T07:25:00.000-08:002013-01-17T07:25:32.756-08:0030 Day ChallengeI didn't think this would happen.&nbsp; My life organized itself in a space not conducive to doing Bikram yoga for 90 minutes every single day.&nbsp; In the back of my mind I had the desire to do a challenge.&nbsp; I put the idea on the back burner, trusting that when the time was right, the universe would re-align my life in a manner fitting for a challenge.&nbsp; <br />Today is day 1!&nbsp; I will be doing 30 days of bikram with my boyfriend Jimmy.&nbsp; He has done 6 or 7 classes and loves the moving meditation aspect of it.&nbsp; He also got pissed looking at himself in the mirror, deciding his mid section looked like the mid section of a man his age (really, he is being hard on himself...he is tall and lean).&nbsp; Ageing is not for the weak of heart, that's for sure.&nbsp; At 42 years old, I am already discovering my body, face and hair changing in ways that are not, well, sexy to say the least.&nbsp; A friend of mine is in the middle of a 30 day challenge and when I was relaying that to Jimmy he said "let's do it!"&nbsp; <br />So here I go....bikramyogachick rises from the dust to do a much needed challenge.&nbsp; I still went to my 5am body pump class at the gym before work today and we will still be hiking on Sundays.&nbsp; Let's see just how far I can push this middle aged body!<br />bikramyogachickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04685444498620345130noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39857386670136881.post-65530026721611641662012-12-26T09:59:00.000-08:002012-12-26T09:59:04.931-08:00Christmas YogaWho goes to Bikram yoga on Christmas morning?&nbsp; <br />Me.&nbsp; And 50 other yogis.<br />My studio had a free class Christmas day at 10am.&nbsp; It was the only class running that day and the teacher practiced with us.&nbsp; We did the class to Bikrams CD.&nbsp; I've been practicing for 5 years and have never practiced to the CD.&nbsp; The verdict?&nbsp;&nbsp;All&nbsp;avid Bikram students should do the CD&nbsp;at least once!&nbsp; I rolled into the studio ready for a good sweat after a family filled Christmas Eve spent at my little apartment.&nbsp; My boyfriend cooked prime rib and we packed 7 people into my tiny place to laugh, love and eat.&nbsp; My daughter headed off to her fathers for gift extravaganza number two Christmas morning and my boyfriend went off to a 9am tee time with a bunch of friends.&nbsp; This is how I found myself on my mat Christmas morning sweating with a room full of yoga friends.&nbsp; The energy was amazing and the students laughed here and there at Bikram spouting off his funny "bikram-isms".&nbsp;&nbsp; It was almost like the man himself were there, in the room, talking to us instead of the class present while doing the recording.&nbsp; <br />Physically I had a great class.&nbsp; I was off work for 6 days in a row what with a couple of vacation days, the weekend and the Christmas holidays.&nbsp; I made it to the hot room 4 times and even managed to get my boyfriend to his first class ever.&nbsp; He mouthed "I hate you, you're crazy" at me toward the end of the standing series.&nbsp; I just chuckled.&nbsp; His ego wouldn't let him sit anything out and he was dying.&nbsp; He did very well and I was proud of him.&nbsp; Oh, and after class he felt great and decided he doesn't actually hate me.&nbsp; <br />bikramyogachickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04685444498620345130noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39857386670136881.post-67995753171922425952012-10-24T07:43:00.000-07:002012-10-24T07:43:07.424-07:00Unity, fellowship, strength and loveLast night I went up to my old studio in Summerlin to do a drop in class and visit my old friends.&nbsp; The thing I loved about that studio was the comraderie amongst the yogis.&nbsp; They are a true community up there and fun abounds.&nbsp; We used to tag each other on facebook and do shout out's "Who's going to the 5pm tonight?" and we'd "talk" on facebook about it in advance, getting excited for our sweaty session together.&nbsp; Once there, it was always fun to jockey for position next to friends.&nbsp; Nothing has changed.&nbsp; I arrived and two of my old friends, Ashley and Jenn had already set up in the front row.&nbsp; They are both competing this year and looked fantastic.&nbsp; I set up next to them and a teacher came in, setting up next to me.&nbsp; The four of us absolutely rocked out that front row.&nbsp; We were in sync with each other, quiet, strong, breathing.&nbsp; It was beautiful.&nbsp; After class, I lay on my mat, soaking in the love and fellowship of the studio.&nbsp; There is something special there, just like old times when I would do challenges and blog about my adventures.&nbsp; I miss my daily practice.&nbsp; I miss the bikram community.&nbsp; I miss the way I felt.&nbsp; Alas, a daily practice is just not in the cards for me at this present time.&nbsp; But who's to say it's not someday?&nbsp; Meanwhile, I will keep going once or twice a week, peppering it in around my body pump and hiking.&nbsp; Life is good!<br />Speaking of hiking, the new man and I are still at it.....we are adorable, right?&nbsp; :)<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cEgsq8g_zNY/UIf-Y-01JKI/AAAAAAAAAao/UBx5e9jkNy8/s1600/menjimmyturtlehead.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" oea="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cEgsq8g_zNY/UIf-Y-01JKI/AAAAAAAAAao/UBx5e9jkNy8/s320/menjimmyturtlehead.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>bikramyogachickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04685444498620345130noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39857386670136881.post-73658605512666236052012-09-04T09:41:00.000-07:002012-09-04T09:41:41.166-07:00Mt. Charleston PeakI've been dating a man for a little over 4 months now.&nbsp; Honestly, it feels longer.&nbsp; I mean that in a very good way.&nbsp; Together we have thrown bbq's at my apartment.&nbsp; Hiked Red Rock, Zion, Bryce and Mt. Charleston.&nbsp; We have laughed, camped, hiked until our feet were throbbing and seen each other at our best and worst.&nbsp; Sometimes, what I think is "my worst" is when he likes me best.&nbsp;<br />I'm not a hiker.&nbsp; I'm afraid of heights.&nbsp; Uncomfortable climbing things.&nbsp; Yet I've done incredible (for me) things these past few months.&nbsp; We topped it off by climbing to the top of Mt. Charleston this past Sunday.&nbsp; We started at 7:30 am up the South Loop to Charleston Peak.&nbsp; Then we went back down the North Loop all the way to Trail Canyon.&nbsp; 22.5 miles round trip.&nbsp; 11,900 elevation.&nbsp; Our hiking group, which started off with close to 10 people two months ago was down to three.&nbsp; Me, my boyfriend Jimmy and our friend David.&nbsp; We camped over on the Lee Canyon side the night before to acclimate to the elevation and finished the hike in 10 hours.<br />I feel pretty hard core.&nbsp; What an accomplishment! (Left to Right:&nbsp; Our friend David, Me and Jimmy)<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1RZ1PabiIlw/UEYubPS7igI/AAAAAAAAAaY/ignekq6qtvQ/s1600/charlestonpeak.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1RZ1PabiIlw/UEYubPS7igI/AAAAAAAAAaY/ignekq6qtvQ/s320/charlestonpeak.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Oh, and as far as Bikram goes.....I'm still going once a week.&nbsp; I've lost a little flexibility in my hips during triangle, but man oh man you should see my standing head to knee.&nbsp; I'm like a rock.&nbsp; My legs are getting STRONG. bikramyogachickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04685444498620345130noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39857386670136881.post-47703372581870302952012-07-24T10:19:00.000-07:002012-07-24T10:19:58.951-07:00StrongerI've only been getting to Bikram once a week.&nbsp; It's all I can squeeze into my schedule right now for many reasons.&nbsp; At first I found this very upsetting.&nbsp; Then I relaxed and decided to be grateful for that 90 mins per week when I can be in that hot room, practicing my favorite style of yoga.&nbsp; Instead of a chore, as it sometimes felt during challenges, it now feels like a mini vacation.&nbsp; A break.&nbsp; Bliss.&nbsp; Coming home.&nbsp; It's great!&nbsp; Last night I went to the 7pm at the new studio here in Vegas.&nbsp; Kimberly was teaching.&nbsp; I really like her style, I used to take her up at Summerlin.&nbsp; The room was hot and crowded, so I ended up right in front of the podium, under Kimberly's all seeing gaze.&nbsp; Since February, I've done body pump at the gym twice a week.&nbsp; Three weeks ago, my friend and I added spin class once a week to that as well.&nbsp; In addition, my new boyfriend loves to hike, so for about 5 weeks in a row we've gone hiking every weekend.&nbsp; This past Sunday we did a 6 mile loop and then a 1.5 mile switchback trail up at Mt. Charleston.&nbsp; Suffice it to say I've been moving around alot and getting stronger in many ways.&nbsp; This has translated into incredible Bikram classes the last few times.&nbsp; Standing head to knee and standing bow are improving in leaps and bounds due to this newfound strength building up in my legs.&nbsp; I'm able to get my forehead on my knee in standing head to knee with consistency now.&nbsp; I just can't hold it very long yet.<br />Class was amazing and I was grateful for every minute in that room, every drop of sweat.&nbsp; I left feeling like a million bucks.&nbsp; Walking out in the parking lot, the guy that practiced next to me was also walking to his car.&nbsp; He looked at me and said "good job in there".&nbsp; I thanked him and then he continued on to say he noticed my balance was strong in the standing series.&nbsp; Unexpected compliments are nice any day, aren't they?<br /><br />bikramyogachickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04685444498620345130noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39857386670136881.post-19399192494132026752012-06-26T16:07:00.001-07:002012-06-26T16:07:07.187-07:00"Bikram yoga elitist. Namaste"- Anonymous Comment"Bikram yoga elitist. Namaste" was an anonymous comment I received on a very old post.&nbsp; Well, I suppose at this point all of my posts are old.&nbsp; I have set the blog down, allowing it to age and collect dust.&nbsp; The <a href="http://bikramyogachick.blogspot.com/2009/03/day-45-you-cant-make-this-shit-up.html">post </a>the comment was attached to was written during one of my challenges.&nbsp; At the time, I suppose I thought it was funny.&nbsp; Hilarious in fact.&nbsp; However, going back and reading it now, I can see how it would be taken wrong.&nbsp; The comment didn't make me mad or annoy me (I left it there), it actually made me smile.&nbsp; Because I have changed so much over the past few years.&nbsp; The main reason I don't write here anymore is because I'm not Bikramyogachick anymore.&nbsp; I still love Bikram.&nbsp; It's my favorite style of yoga.&nbsp; But I only get to class once a week at best.&nbsp; I body pump at the gym.&nbsp; I go to hot pilates.&nbsp; I hike up at red rock canyon with my new boyfriend.&nbsp; I'm going to spin class this coming Friday with my 5am body pump partner.&nbsp; She and I are going to do 5am spin.&nbsp; The ironic thing about all of this 5am gym nonsense&nbsp;is I'm not a morning person.&nbsp; I also avoided hiking before because I was afraid to scramble over rocks and boulders.&nbsp; Two weeks ago I did all of ice box canyon up at red rock, needing my boyfriends assistance over a couple of very large boulders, but I did it.&nbsp; I was fearless, which is also not me.&nbsp; I'm going up to Zion with my boyfriend next week to hike Angels Landing.&nbsp; I am planning to skydive with friends.&nbsp; I watch the hot air balloons on Saturday mornings from my apartment balcony, quietly sipping coffee next to this wonderful new man that dropped into my lap two months ago and say "I want to do that".&nbsp; This from a girl who was deathly afraid of heights.&nbsp; Thirteen months ago I surrendered my demons and made a huge change in my life and nothing is the same anymore.&nbsp; I'm not that girl who looked for salvation in that hot room anymore.&nbsp; The hot room led me there, surely, for it helped me to grow.&nbsp; To have courage.&nbsp; To feel more comfortable in my own skin and to reach deep inside for connection.&nbsp; My life today is focused on helping others, not worrying about what I think, feel or need.&nbsp; I connect with others on a level I've never experienced and my whole world has expanded.&nbsp; I didn't leave Bikram behind or any of the amazing people I've met there.&nbsp; There are still there, in my ever widening circle.&nbsp; I come home to that room once a week and lay my mat down reverently because Bikramyogachick is still in there and I love to visit her.&nbsp;bikramyogachickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04685444498620345130noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39857386670136881.post-61136300747912723392012-03-29T15:05:00.000-07:002012-03-29T15:07:29.064-07:00Guest Post: Lyndsey From the Sunshine State<div style="text-align: left;"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><h3 class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"> Guest post by Lyndsey- Enjoy!</h3><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">&nbsp; </div><div style="-moz-background-clip: border; -moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; -moz-background-origin: padding; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #333333;">I had a very cool class this afternoon and wanted to share my thoughts with someone who I know will appreciate them. We had a traveling instructor, which I always love. You know, you get used to your favorite instructors... their style, their dialogue, etc. There's nothing like a class with your favorite instructor. But... it's predictable. You know when you’re going to get three extra seconds to breathe. That extra sip of water. The poses they’re really going to kick your ass on, because you can do it and you know it, and they know it, and maybe you just need a tough love reminder by staying in it for five extra seconds. With travelers, you never know what you’re going to get in the hot room, and I love that. That’s the beauty of this yoga... whether familiar, or strange, the poses never change, the sequence never changes, only you change, by getting better, stronger, happier. Every instructor leaves you with a piece of themselves to take with you to your next class and integrate into your practice. A class with your favorite instructor is like pushing open your own front door at the end of a long, exhausting, frustrating day. Ahhh, home. I know this. It’s comforting. I like being here. A class with someone you’ve never known until five minutes earlier when you met in the lobby is like stepping on an airplane... you’re going somewhere, it’s going to be an adventure, it’s exciting, but you never know just EXACTLY what you’re going to get. </span></span></div><div style="-moz-background-clip: border; -moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; -moz-background-origin: padding; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #333333;">&nbsp;So this lady probably could have been somewhere in her fifties but she had an incredible body, youthful glow, young spirit and I just thought... that's the yoga. I hope and pray that when I reach that point in life I'm as healthy and happy and rock solid as this lady. The other thing that made class unique was it was a small class and all women. Five of us. Always a cool dynamic. She had us all use the middle row and it just created a very cool energy in the room. I could feel us all feeding off each others’ strength and it was a very powerful class. When I was weak, wobbly, and short of breath, the girl next to me was kicking ass and it would cause me to dig down for some deep inner strength and know that I CAN DO IT TOO. And when someone else was The Wobbler, I was strong, controlled, poised, and could share just enough of that energy to hold myself up and maybe encourage someone else to get back in the posture. </span></span></div><div style="-moz-background-clip: border; -moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; -moz-background-origin: padding; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #333333;">The coolest moment for me though was camel pose, second set. Instead of facing the front mirror she had us face the back wall to start. In the full expression, we ended up looking at our own posture in the front mirror... upside down with our smiling happy faces. It was incredible!!! Such an exhilarating moment for me. I looked at myself in the posture and just thought wow, look at my body! It's amazing! Beautiful, strong, powerful. Not the kind of thoughts I think about myself without yoga! But I gained so much respect for myself in that moment. I realized that in spite of its flaws or pain or whatever else, my body is powerful and capable and full of potential. Anyway, it was a really cool moment for me and a great class and I just wanted to share.&nbsp;</span></span></div><div style="-moz-background-clip: border; -moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; -moz-background-origin: padding; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="-moz-background-clip: border; -moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; -moz-background-origin: padding; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit;"><b style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Thank you all for reading and sharing your love of Bikram yoga! Special thanks to Michelle for being so kind as to invite me to write a guest post about my mountain top experience! Keep smiling, and don’t forget to breathe! Namaste!&nbsp;</b></span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: &quot;Tahoma&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 8.5pt;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><i style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #351c75;">Lyndsey is a compassionate nurse and adorable yogini who resides in Florida.&nbsp; When she's not out saving lives or hanging out with her handsome hubby, she immerses herself in the hot room.&nbsp; She likes the shooting range, dragging her hubby out of bed mercilessly on his days off for breakfast and pretty flowers.&nbsp; She dreams of teacher training someday.&nbsp; Who knows?&nbsp; Perhaps she and I could end up at the same training someday.&nbsp; Now wouldn't that be amazing!&nbsp; God bless the interwebs for bringing us all together.&nbsp; The virtual Bikram community rocks!</span></i>&nbsp;<i><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> <span style="color: #351c75;">~ Bikramyogachick</span></span></i></span></div>bikramyogachickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04685444498620345130noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39857386670136881.post-78961183103464976742012-02-10T09:41:00.000-08:002012-02-10T09:41:51.763-08:00New StudioLas Vegas now has FOUR bikram studios.&nbsp; Oh, and the annuals, they are not outrageously expensive like other cities.&nbsp; I know, I know, it's not fair!&nbsp; The newest studio is just a few miles from where I live.&nbsp; It opened up this past Monday.&nbsp; Check it out here:&nbsp; <a href="http://bikramlasvegas.com/">Bikram Las Vegas</a><br />It's gorgeous!bikramyogachickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04685444498620345130noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39857386670136881.post-5151616694177297862011-12-30T13:45:00.001-08:002011-12-30T13:50:52.890-08:00An Oldie But A Goodie<em><span style="color: purple;">This post was written by me last year (March 2010).&nbsp; It appeared on day 90 of the <a href="http://bikram101.blogspot.com/">Bikram 101</a> challenge blog&nbsp;(which to my regret I was not able to complete and will revisit someday)</span></em><br /><em><span style="color: purple;">I came across it and found it fitting for this time in my life.&nbsp; Yoga has always brought me peace, but even more so now.&nbsp; For approx 6 months I did not practice yoga.&nbsp; Coming back to it last summer I was so aware of what a gift it was.&nbsp; Absence truly does make the heart grow fonder.</span></em><br /><br />The Watcher<br /><br />Social Media serves many purposes. I find it interesting because I feel like I'm getting a peek inside of my friends heads. Take facebook and twitter for instance. People type in thoughts and hit enter, many times before thinking it through. "Do I really want to post THIS?" Twitter is almost like a strange little collective stream of consciousness. One hundred and forty characters at a time of disjointed thoughts, ideas, opinions, and emotions. If we could truly get into each others heads and hear what goes on in there for a full day we'd probably think our friends crazy and they in turn would be appalled at what goes on in ours! <br /><br /><br />We are not our thoughts though. That stream of consciousness that flows during the day is not truly who you are. Good thoughts, bad thoughts, songs that rattle through your mind, all of the "noise" is not you.<br /><br />Yoga helps us to tap into that deeper layer of consciousness. I like to think of it as the ocean. The top of the water is choppy, churning, sometimes violent, always moving. At the bottom of the ocean, where all is still, quiet and deep, lays "the watcher". This is the other part of us that observes. This is the part that takes over during the 90 minute moving meditation that is Bikram. The watcher is what pulls us through a tough class. Our minds, like children, will start to wander. "It's hot in here. My shorts are riding up. That girl has amazing postures. Man she's keeping us in postures forever today. My contacts are jacked up today. Crap I can't balance today. Look at mr. cutie in the back row....." The watcher interrupts the chatter and reminds you to breathe. You are brought back to the room, your focus returns and your mind quiets. If you are like me, the mind does not stay quiet. The 90 minutes is an exercise in constantly returning to focus. When it's all over, we lay in savasana, quiet, sated. If we are lucky, we are able to take that gift and use it the rest of the day. Able to stay calm and focused in other segments of our day, not just yoga. <br /><br />The mind chatter is what makes us human. The watcher is what reminds us we are also spiritual beings, able to connect with something beautiful and powerful. Able to get out of our own head and find peace, even if just for a moment. Yoga is the gift that brings us closer to that peace.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="color: #0b5394;">"When we remember we are all mad, the mysteries disappear and life stands explained."</span><br /><span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span><br /><span style="color: #0b5394;">Mark Twain</span><br /><br /><br /><br />bikramyogachickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04685444498620345130noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39857386670136881.post-47362305684787918302011-12-14T11:43:00.000-08:002011-12-14T11:43:16.813-08:00CrackedLast night was bikram at 5.&nbsp; The studio owner taught.&nbsp; It was a nice, juicy, fast paced class.&nbsp; Everybody was focused and determined.&nbsp; The layout of the class was comical.&nbsp; For some reason people only went to the right and to the left of the room, leaving a big gaping hole in the middle from front to back.&nbsp; As Steph stood up on the podium in the center of the room and led us through the class it sort of looked like she had just parted the red sea....of yogi's that is.&nbsp; The sweaty sea.&nbsp; <br />I had a fairly strong class and by the time we got to toe stand,&nbsp;I was in the zone and unprepared for what happened next.&nbsp; I'm getting into tree, preparing to go down for toe stand and as my fingers hit the ground in their normal "tent like" placement, I felt and heard horrible cracking noises in EVERY SINGLE finger of my right hand.&nbsp; A whole bunch of thoughts flashed through my brain in mere milliseconds.&nbsp; "OMG, did my fingers just break?" "They don't hurt"&nbsp; "If I jerk my hands off the mat, I'll face plant" ....along with some other thoughts, too fast for me to even remember and record.&nbsp; I ended up just sitting up into the posture, hunched over as usual, balancing on my fingertips, as usual.&nbsp; To the outsider, nothing happened.&nbsp; To me, I'm balanced on my fingers amazed they were not broken.&nbsp; It was THAT loud and horrible.&nbsp;&nbsp; As I lay in savasana when the posture was over, I moved my fingers carefully, trying to asses the damage, if any.&nbsp; There was none.&nbsp; They all just cracked, severely, and all at the same time.&nbsp; That has never happened.&nbsp; After four and a half years of practicing, new things can still happen!bikramyogachickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04685444498620345130noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39857386670136881.post-85258622263080543592011-12-01T21:37:00.000-08:002011-12-01T21:37:00.631-08:00Hey YOGA GIRL!<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/L-8IPDR4Khc?fs=1" width="480"></iframe><br /><br /><br />This video is hilarious.&nbsp; Enjoy!bikramyogachickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04685444498620345130noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39857386670136881.post-76008119467846900302011-12-01T16:08:00.000-08:002011-12-01T16:08:00.081-08:00I flipped my dog!Last night I did hot power vinyasa with an instructor named Martin.&nbsp; This was my third class with him.&nbsp; The great thing about Martin, besides the fact that he looks like a Greek statue, is that he sets up an atmosphere in class where you truly can believe in yourself.&nbsp; He encourages us to play with the postures, take them to where we can and then stop and just feel where we are.&nbsp; <br />The first time I ever did <a href="http://bikramyogachick.blogspot.com/2010/02/day-59-two-firsts.html">Baptiste</a>&nbsp;I was overwhelmed by some of the postures.&nbsp; They did this thing where you are in downward facing dog and then you "<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXzUZc6auNw">flip your dog</a>"**.&nbsp; I remember dropping to my knees to watch and thinking "there is no way in hell I will EVER do that!" I was tired just being in down dog and I was afraid to even try.&nbsp; I had visions of falling and somehow maybe even breaking my neck during the transition.<br />Last night in Martin's class I decided to set my intention to play.&nbsp; Have fun with it.&nbsp; Listen to my body.&nbsp; So when he said "ok, now flip your dog" I just did it.&nbsp; The gentle tap as my foot landed and the stretch in my body as I stayed in the landing position felt amazing.&nbsp; I dropped my head back and saw myself in the mirror and a huge smile splayed across my face.&nbsp; All I could think was "OMG I just flipped my dog!&nbsp; Holy cow, I flipped my dog!"&nbsp; Something that felt impossible in Feb of 2010 during my first Baptiste class suddenly just happened, effortlessly.&nbsp; <br />God I love yoga.<br />Tonight it's back to Bikram.&nbsp; Lacey is going to show me how to train for the splits.&nbsp; I'm so excited I can hardly stand it! <br /><br />**for a you tube demo of flipping your dog, click the linkbikramyogachickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04685444498620345130noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39857386670136881.post-52796499273464334382011-11-28T16:24:00.000-08:002011-11-28T16:24:00.432-08:00Yoga is "Play Time"I've been having fun with yoga lately.&nbsp; The Bikram Yoga Summerlin studio is becoming my home away from home.&nbsp; Just like days of old, when I would hang out with the "regulars" and have a blast during challenges, the same is happening up at Summerlin.&nbsp; We facebook "tag" each other when we "check in" via facebook.&nbsp; We do facebook "shout outs" to see who's going.&nbsp; We save spots for each other.&nbsp; We breathe as one, we help each other up in full locust.&nbsp; After class we play around on our mats a bit, practicing postures, stretching, our bodies like a built in jungle gym.&nbsp; And of course, there are the sweaty hugs after class.&nbsp; At 41 years old I am suddenly more curious than ever about my body.&nbsp; I was always the kid in gym class who got picked last.&nbsp; I could not do cartwheels, handstands, headstands or splits like the other girls.&nbsp; I was very uncoordinated, completely not flexible and just non athletic period.&nbsp; In high school I swam and ran cross country but I was not great at either.&nbsp; Now I find myself going through a process.&nbsp; "I want to learn how to do handstands".&nbsp; "Could I ever do the splits?"&nbsp; These thoughts have been rolling around in my head, bright spots of "what if".&nbsp; What if?&nbsp; What if I could, at 41, learn the splits, a handstand??&nbsp; What else could I learn?&nbsp; What other postures can my body do with practice?&nbsp; So I asked for help, from a teacher.&nbsp; She's going to show me what to do, everyday, to work up to the splits.&nbsp; I'm excited, because instead of what if....it's when.&nbsp; If I practice everyday I <span style="color: blue;"><em>will</em></span> do the splits!&nbsp; I don't know how long it will take, and it doesn't matter.&nbsp; What matters is progress!&nbsp;bikramyogachickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04685444498620345130noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39857386670136881.post-75399068613237671732011-11-07T22:10:00.000-08:002011-11-07T22:10:16.484-08:00SamplingI feel like I've been sampling a fitness buffet this past week. &nbsp;I've taken hot 90x yoga/pilates, hot Venus (similar to bikram in a sense) and hot pilates twice. &nbsp;The second pilates class I did much better and already saw some improvement. &nbsp;Tomorrow I'm going to back to my one true love, Bikram, then Wednesday, it's back to get tortured and maimed in 90x. &nbsp;What I've learned so far from this experience is that 1) I was getting way to comfortable and complacent 2) my overall fitness level is low 3) I am determined and when pushed, my body responds and 4) I'm enjoying new experiences and staying open minded.<br />What will I do going forward? &nbsp;I'm not sure. &nbsp;It would be awfully expensive to maintain memberships at both studios. &nbsp;Awesome, but expensive. &nbsp;For now, I've got some classes left at both and I'm going to enjoy the crap out of this fitness buffet.bikramyogachickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04685444498620345130noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39857386670136881.post-78425910390522185762011-11-03T10:08:00.000-07:002011-11-03T10:08:46.486-07:00In over my headLast night I took a class at Vegas Hot.&nbsp; It was a "90X -Hot Yoga/Pilates" class.&nbsp; The instructor is the guy who teaches kettlebells there and is very popular.&nbsp; I walk in and set down my mat, not having any clue what to expect.&nbsp; I should have known, by looking around, that I was in the wrong place.&nbsp; I mean, the instructor is ridiculous.&nbsp; I mean that in a good way.&nbsp; He has not an ounce of fat on his body and muscles in all the right places.&nbsp; He looks like a statue of male perfection.&nbsp; I was looking around for the elf with the chisel that must follow this guy around and carve out those perfect abs.&nbsp; Seriously, he's ridiculous.&nbsp; That's just the instructor.&nbsp; The students, well, let's just say I didn't see any overweight people in that room.&nbsp; Except for me.&nbsp; That should have set off all sorts of alarm bells and warnings.&nbsp;&nbsp; But like the lobster that sits in the cold water pot, letting the heat rise slowly, I wasn't prepared for the boil.&nbsp; <br />I can't even remember what we did.&nbsp; I can't rattle off pilates moves and yoga postures.&nbsp; I do remember lots of plank type stuff and I can't do plank.&nbsp; Like at all.&nbsp; The first 45 minutes was some sort of hot pilates boot camp hell with a little yoga mixed in there.&nbsp; I was on my hands and knees, staring down at my mat, dripping sweat, panting, thinking "oh my God, I can't do this.&nbsp; I'm in way over my head, I need to leave right now!"<br />I looked over at my friend Carmen and whispered what I had just thought.&nbsp; She encouraged me to stay.&nbsp; So I did.&nbsp; I'm quite sure I looked like a train wreck even attempting that class but in the end, when it was over, I was proud of myself for sticking it out.<br />I've got to try that again!bikramyogachickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04685444498620345130noreply@blogger.com1